Category: Australia

A Barossa food tradition

Maggie Beer is one of Australia’s favourite cooks, cookery writers and a pioneering champion of Barossa regional cuisine. Her farm shop offers daily verjuice cooking demonstrations at 2pm. Visitors to the farm shop will also find Maggie’s gourmet products and award-winning books. Her cooking, using mainly local produce, has been pivotal in the development of

Australia's newest five star spa

In February 2010, the doors will open on the Spa at Château Élan, a five-star Salut Per Aqua in the heart of the Hunter Valley.  Part of the new Château Élan at The Vintage, the luxury spa complex has 18 treatment rooms dedicated to exclusive spa rituals, traditional hydrotherapies and social relaxation. It is one

Italian cookery classes (in Australia!) from Rosa Matto

Are you planning a special Italian dinner or perhaps just looking to brush up your skills? South Australian chef Rosa Matto has been hosting cooking classes  with an Italian twist since 1989, giving lessons from her custom-built open studio kitchen in Goodwood, Adelaide. Rosa’s classes are very hands-on and range from sauce, bread and pasta
$260m plan for Melbourne's Hotel Windsor

$260m plan for Melbourne's Hotel Windsor

Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor has announced a $260 million development proposal aimed at securing the future of the city’s only 19th Century grand hotel.  The proposal  aims to re-establish the property as the leading hotel in Melbourne. Highlights of the plan include: • Refurbishment of the original hotel building and its key historic features. The exterior
An eco-retreat in the heart of South Australia's Flinders Ranges

An eco-retreat in the heart of South Australia's Flinders Ranges

Travellers to South Australia looking for environmentally sensitive accommodation devoid of mobile phone reception yet rich in old-fashioned Outback hospitality, should look no further than 29,000 acre Rawnsley Park Station. Renowned for the introduction of their award-winning luxurious eco villas, Rawnsley Park is located in the heart of the Flinders Ranges only 400 km from
The world's largest chocolate waterfall!

The world's largest chocolate waterfall!

Chocolate lovers’ wildest fantasies are now coming true with the launch of the largest chocolate waterfall in the world.   Made from 400kg of chocolate descending in a mere five seconds and 4.5m wide, the new sweet attraction is part of Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate, the world’s first interactive chocolate exhibition on iconic Philip
Interview with Catherine Leech of 101 Holidays

Interview with Catherine Leech of 101 Holidays

Catherine Leech has worked in luxury travel for more than 25 years. She started in PR before becoming European Director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, then Managing Director of luxury tour operator, Caribtours. After the tsunami of 2004 she moved to Sri Lanka where she worked for two years, mostly as a volunteer,
A successful first year for 'qualia'

A successful first year for 'qualia'

qualia, Australia’s newest world class luxury resort on Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, has much to celebrate since its opening 12 months ago. Most notably it was awarded “Best New Tourism Development” at the 2008 Whitsunday Tourism Awards; in May 2008 qualia was also featured on the cover of the UK version of

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto opens its doors

The AU$60 million resurrection of Melbourne’s grandest heritage hotel is complete. The iconic The Rialto has re-opened as InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, bringing one of the finest brands in international hotel luxury to Australia’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant city. Guests can now experience the only luxury hotel in Melbourne’s financial district, transformed as one of
The Australia Way

The Australia Way

‘Australia‘, a newly-released film,  tells the story of an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and a rough-hewn cattle driver (Hugh Jackman), who drive a 1,500 herd of cattle across Northern Australia; and it is putting the country well and truly on the tourist map in a manner not seen since the days of
Green star for the Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island

Green star for the Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island

The Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island has another star to its name.   Not content to be a just another five star resort, it’s scooped up a green star  endorsement from AAA Tourism. This new accolade is to recognise the resort’s environmentally responsible business practices.

Tasmania's best tourist attraction? Tahune Airwalk

An insight into Tahune Airwalk, one of Tasmania’s best-known attractions.

Introductory special from the Metropolis Hotel Auckland

When only the best is good enough, the Metropolis Hotel Auckland is the place to meet. Under Millennium Hotels & Resorts management from the 1st June 2008,  they are  delighted to offer you this special introductory offer of $180 (inc GST) per night for a one-bedroom apartment. But be in quick, this offer is for
Luxurious 'Platinum' service introduced Down Under on The Ghan

Luxurious 'Platinum' service introduced Down Under on The Ghan

Known for making the epic journey from Darwin through to Adelaide, legendary Australian train The Ghan is introducing a ‘platinum’ service in September that aims to be exceptional in luxurious standards. Passengers will be able to rest their heads on deluxe pillows from a menu, stretch out in cabins with fresh flowers that are twice
Branson develops Makepeace Island at Noosa

Branson develops Makepeace Island at Noosa

Sir  Richard Branson is  pressing ahead with  the construction of  a luxury Australian island retreat for his Virgin airline staff despite  remaining opposition from environmentalists.   Plans for the $4 million nine-hectare estate at Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, have already been scaled back so that there won’t be a country club or helipad as
Argh!  Why can't companies keep their sites up-to-date?

Argh! Why can't companies keep their sites up-to-date?

You’d think at the luxury end of the industry that operators would keep their sites up-to-date, wouldn’t you?   Whilst most do, I often stumble upon examples where they don’t.   QANTAS are currently offering a ‘Seashells Escape’ on their QANTAS Holidays homepage  – a 10-night itinerary discovering the delights of Western Australia whilst staying